George Zimmerman, a 28-year old self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in a gated community in Sanford, FL. Zimmerman claimed self-defense in the shooting. Martin was walking home from a local convenience story where he had purchased Skittles and ice tea. Zimmerman was riding around the neighborhood when he spotted Martin and called 911. He told the dispatcher to report Martin’s “suspicious” behavior, which he described as “just walking around looking about.” Zimmerman then followed Martin although the dispatcher told him not to do so and the two had a confrontation during which the 250 lb. Zimmerman shot the 140 lb. Martin once in the chest with his 9 mm. pistol. When the police arrived Zimmerman claimed he had killed Martin in self defense. The police accepted Zimmerman's claim because, the Sanford Police Chief said, Zimmerman had a "squeaky clean" record even though Zimmerman had been arrested in Orlando in 2005 for violently resisting arrest and battery on a police officer. The charges were later dropped. Zimmerman was also been the subject of complaints by his neighbors for his aggressive tactics. One witness claimed that she heard Martin yell for help, but a police officer "corrected" her saying it was Zimmerman who yelled for help although the officer was not on the scene when it happened.Link 1Link 2

"The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case." Thomas Paine: Dissertation on First Principles of Government (July 1795)

This is Florida we're talking about. I have absolutely no doubt the murderer will go free. In the South it is really hard to convict a white male that has killed a black male. If it were the other way around, the black male would already be on death row.

Now, if there is enough pressure put on Florida I could be proven wrong. I sure hope so.

Dave - Just a Man in the Mountains.

"I will not attack your doctrines nor your creeds if they accord liberty to me. If they hold thought to be dangerous - if they aver that doubt is a crime, then I attack them one and all, because they enslave the minds of men."― Robert G. Ingersoll,

I heard in one news report that the family is asking the FBI to investigate. They must not have full faith in the State Attorney's office, either. This guy is dangerous and needs to be taken off the streets. I don't know at what level within the police department that the decision was made not to arrest him, but whoever made that decision deserves to be fired. I sure wouldn't feel safe living in a town where those were the people sworn to serve and protect. Pathetic.

Our need to learn should always outweigh our need to be right

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren't so busy denying them.

I am sickened by this case. As a long time participant in neighborhood policing programs, I can tell you this: Zimmerman did not follow standard procedures at all. He should never have gotten out of the car, especially after being instructed not to by the police dispatcher. In most Neighborhood Watch programs, he would also have been forbidden to patrol while armed.

In addition, I am completely at loss for a logical explanation as to why Zimmerman was not tested for drugs and alcohol immediately. In most places, this is standard when a questionable death occurs. In this, the Sanford police did Zimmerman no favors - a law enforcement expert has now suggested that Zimmerman sounded intoxicated, and he has no way to disprove that.

I agree that this case should be elevated and thoroughly investigated. Not only the shooting itself, but the neighborhood watch program, and Zimmerman's competency to hold a concealed carry license need to be evaluated. None of this will bring Trayvon back, but perhaps, as his parents hope, it can prevent at least one of the "next times".

...In addition, I am completely at loss for a logical explanation as to why Zimmerman was not tested for drugs and alcohol immediately. In most places, this is standard when a questionable death occurs....

What Zimmerman is guilty of cannot be found in a blood test; extreme bigotry.

Dave - Just a Man in the Mountains.

"I will not attack your doctrines nor your creeds if they accord liberty to me. If they hold thought to be dangerous - if they aver that doubt is a crime, then I attack them one and all, because they enslave the minds of men."― Robert G. Ingersoll,

...In addition, I am completely at loss for a logical explanation as to why Zimmerman was not tested for drugs and alcohol immediately. In most places, this is standard when a questionable death occurs....

What Zimmerman is guilty of cannot be found in a blood test; extreme bigotry.

M_M, it looks to me like it's more than just Zimmerman. Why did the police not treat him as their standard procedures recommend? Why do they feel that a dead unarmed boy, an armed man and the transcripts from the 911 calls don't provide probable cause for arrest? I say the bigotry doesn't stop with Zimmerman, but extends into the Sanford Police Department at least.

M_M, it looks to me like it's more than just Zimmerman. Why did the police not treat him as their standard procedures recommend? Why do they feel that a dead unarmed boy, an armed man and the transcripts from the 911 calls don't provide probable cause for arrest? I say the bigotry doesn't stop with Zimmerman, but extends into the Sanford Police Department at least.

Like I said; this is Florida we're talking about. Anywhere but the South Zimmerman would be in jail under murder charges.

Dave - Just a Man in the Mountains.

"I will not attack your doctrines nor your creeds if they accord liberty to me. If they hold thought to be dangerous - if they aver that doubt is a crime, then I attack them one and all, because they enslave the minds of men."― Robert G. Ingersoll,

M_M, it looks to me like it's more than just Zimmerman. Why did the police not treat him as their standard procedures recommend? Why do they feel that a dead unarmed boy, an armed man and the transcripts from the 911 calls don't provide probable cause for arrest? I say the bigotry doesn't stop with Zimmerman , but extends into the Sanford Police Department at least.

It's more than Zimmerman and its more than the police:

Zimmerman had been the subject of earlier complaints by residents of the gated community in which he and Martin's family lived. At an emergency homeowner's association meeting earlier this month, "one man was escorted out because he openly expressed his frustration because he had previously contacted the Sanford Police Department about Zimmerman approaching him and even coming to his home," a resident wrote in an email to HuffPost. "It was also made known that there had been several complaints about George Zimmerman and his tactics" in his neighborhood watch captain role.

I'm not sure in this case who was ultimately responsible for organizing and staffing the neighborhood watch, but it is clear this homeowner's association is up to its eyeballs in this as well. This guy was a disaster waiting to happen, and there were evidently plenty of warning signs.